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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clearImportance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV)Then he defeated the Moabites. David forced them to lie on the ground and used a length of rope to decide their fate—those inside two lengths of the rope were killed, and those inside the third length were spared and so the Moabites became David’s servants—bringing him tribute.
Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
BrLXXΚαὶ ἐπάταξε Δαυὶδ τὴν Μωὰβ, καὶ διεμέτρησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν σχοινίοις, κοιμίσας αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐγένετο τὰ δύο σχοινίσματα τοῦ θανατῶσαι, καὶ τὰ δύο σχοινίσματα ἐζώγρησε· καὶ ἐγένετο Μωὰβ τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς δούλους φέροντας ξένια. (Kai epataxe Dawid taʸn Mōab, kai diemetraʸsen autous en sⱪoiniois, koimisas autous epi taʸn gaʸn; kai egeneto ta duo sⱪoinismata tou thanatōsai, kai ta duo sⱪoinismata ezōgraʸse; kai egeneto Mōab tōi Dawid eis doulous ferontas xenia. )
BrTrAnd David smote Moab, and measured them out with lines, having [fn]laid them down on the ground: and there were two lines for slaying, and two lines he kept alive: and Moab became servants to David, yielding tribute.
ULTAnd he struck Moab, and he measured them with the rope, making them lie down to the ground. And he measured two ropes to be killed and the fullness of the rope to let live. And Moab became servants to David, people who lift offering.
USTDavid’s army also defeated the army of the Moab people group. David forced their soldiers to lie down on the ground close to each other. His men killed two out of every three of them. The others of the Moab people were forced to accept David as their ruler, and they were forced to give to him every year the payment that he demanded.
BSB § David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
OEBThen smote Moab and measured them off with a line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured to put to death and one full line to save alive. And thus the Moabites became subject to David, and brought a present.
WEBBEHe defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
NETHe defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.
LSVAnd he strikes Moab, and measures them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measures two lines to put to death, and the fullness of the line to keep alive, and the Moabites are for servants to David, bearers of a present.
FBVDavid also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground, and he measured them with a length of cord. He measured two lengths for those to be killed, and one cord length for those to be allowed to live. So he made them subject to him and required them to pay taxes.
T4TDavid’s army also defeated the army of the Moab people-group. David forced their soldiers to lie down on the ground close to each other. His men killed two out of every three of them. The other Moab people were forced to accept David as their ruler, and they were forced to give to him every year the payment/tax that he demanded.
LEBWhen he defeated Moab, he measured them with the cord, making them lie on the ground. He measured two cords to kill and the third cord[fn] to let live.[fn] So Moab became servants of David, bringing tribute.
8:2This method of selection must have been well known to the reader, but the exact procedure has been obscured over the millennia. It may be that one out of three lived through the process, only to become subservient
BBEAnd he overcame the Moabites, and he had them measured with a line when they were stretched out on the earth; marking out two lines for death and one full line for life. So the Moabites became servants to David and gave him offerings.
JPSAnd he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought presents.
ASVAnd he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
DRAAnd he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the earth: and he measured with two lines, one to put to death, and one to save alive: and Moab was made to serve David under tribute.
YLTAnd he smiteth Moab, and measureth them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measureth two lines to put to death, and the fulness of the line to keep alive, and the Moabites are to David for servants, bearers of a present.
DrbyAnd he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.
RVAnd he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full fine to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought presents.
WbstrAnd he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines he measured to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
KJB-1769And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
KJB-1611And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them downe to the ground: euen with two lines measured he, to put to death, and with one full line to keepe aliue: and so the Moabites became Dauids seruants, and brought gifts. (Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)
BshpsAnd he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a lyne, and cast them downe to the grounde, euen with two lynes measured he them, to put them to death, and with one full corde to kepe them alyue: And so became the Moabites Dauids seruauntes, and brought giftes. (And he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a lyne, and cast them down to the ground, even with two lynes measured he them, to put them to death, and with one full corde to keep them alive: And so became the Moabites Davids servants, and brought giftes.)
GnvaAnd hee smote Moab, and measured them with a corde, and cast them downe to the ground: he measured them with two cordes to put them to death, and with one full corde to keepe them aliue: so became the Moabites Dauids seruants, and brought giftes. (And he smote Moab, and measured them with a corde, and cast them down to the ground: he measured them with two cordes to put them to death, and with one full corde to keep them alive: so became the Moabites Davids servants, and brought giftes. )
CvdlHe smote the Moabites also to the grounde, so that he broughte two partes of them to death, and let one parte lyue. Thus the Moabites were subdued vnto Dauid, so yt they broughte him giftes. (He smote the Moabites also to the ground, so that he brought two partes of them to death, and let one part live. Thus the Moabites were subdued unto David, so it they brought him giftes.)
WyclAnd Dauid smoot Moab, and mat hem with a coorde, and made euene to the erthe; forsothe `he mat twey cordis, oon to sle, and oon to quikene. And Moab seruyde Dauid vndur tribute. (And David smote Moab, and mat them with a coorde, and made even to the earth; forsothe `he mat two cordis, one to sle, and one to quick/alivene. And Moab seruyde David under tribute.)
LuthEr schlug auch die Moabiter also zu Boden, daß er zwei Teile zum Tode brachte und ein Teil beim Leben ließ. Also wurden die Moabiter David untertänig, daß sie ihm Geschenke zutrugen. (He hit/beat also the Moabiter also to Boden, that he two parts for_the Tode brought and a Teil beim life ließ. So became the Moabiter David submissive/subservient, that they/she/them him Geschenke zutrugen.)
ClVgEt percussit Moab, et mensus est eos funiculo, coæquans terræ: mensus est autem duos funiculos, unum ad occidendum, et unum ad vivificandum: factusque est Moab David serviens sub tributo.[fn] (And he_struck Moab, and mensus it_is them funiculo, coæquans terræ: mensus it_is however duos funiculos, one to occidendum, and one to vivificandum: factusque it_is Moab David serviens under tributo. )
8.2Coæquans. Non enim homines in terra viventes intantum humiliabantur, ut funiculo super extenso terræ apparerent æquales: sed adeo viles et contempti, ut in nullo plus valerent, quam terra quæ nullos homines habet. Funiculum autem pro sorte posuit; quia funiculo solet mensurari, secundum illud: et sorte divisit eis terram in funiculo distributionis Psal. 77.. Significat autem quod tam libere regiones Moabitarum, quibus vellet divideret, quam possessor agros proprios. RAB. Significat autem quia quos voluit potuit occidere, et quibus voluit potuit parcere. Quod autem Moab, qui interpretatur ex patre, et Syriam Damasci et cæteras regiones tributarias fecit, significat quod Christus omnes gentes sub dominatione sua tenet, et premit, et censum bonorum operum exigit. Damascus enim nobilis urbs Phœnicis eodem vocabulo quo et Maseth ancillæ Abrahæ filius dicitur, et interpretatur sanguinis poculum. Syria vero sublimis vel humecta; quæ enim prius humecta libidine sanguinem humanum inexplebiliter sitiebat, nunc mundata baptismo Christi, sublimis profectu virtutum, sanguinis ejus poculum desiderat.
8.2Coæquans. Non because homines in earth/land viventes intantum humiliabantur, as funiculo over extenso terræ apparerent æquales: but adeo viles and contempti, as in nullo plus valerent, how earth/land which nullos homines habet. Funiculum however for sorte posuit; because funiculo solet mensurari, after/second illud: and sorte divided to_them the_earth/land in funiculo distributionis Psal. 77.. Significat however that tam libere regiones Moabitarum, to_whom vellet divideret, how possessor agros proprios. RAB. Significat however because which voluit potuit occidere, and to_whom voluit potuit parcere. That however Moab, who interpretatur ex patre, and Syriam Damasci and cæteras regiones tributarias fecit, significat that Christus everyone gentes under dominatione his_own holds, and premit, and censum bonorum operum exigit. Damascus because nobilis city Phœnicis eodem vocabulo quo and Maseth ancillæ Abrahæ son it_is_said, and interpretatur sanguinis poculum. Syria vero sublimis or humecta; which because first/before humecta libidine sanguinem humanum inexplebiliter sitiebat, now mundata baptismo of_Christ, sublimis profectu virtutum, blood his poculum desiderat.
8:2Moab was on the east side of the Dead Sea. Earlier, the people of Moab had provided David’s parents with refuge during Saul’s reign (1 Sam 22:3-4); David’s great-grandmother, Ruth, was from Moab. For whatever reason, no such fraternal relationship existed any longer. • two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared: This is the only time in 2 Samuel that David executed captives taken in battle (see Num 21:29; 24:17; Deut 2:9).
2 Samuel 8:1-8; 10:1-19; 12:21-31; 1 Chronicles 18:2-11; 19:1-19; 20:1-3
The accounts of David’s greatest military victories stand like bookends around the record of David’s most grievous sins. Sometime after David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and the Lord promised to establish his dynasty over Israel, David achieved a series of victories over virtually all of Israel’s neighboring nations. These began with David’s capture of Metheg-ammah (likely Gath) and all of Philistia and was followed by his victory over Moab. Then Nahash king of Ammon died, and David sent envoys to express his condolences to Nahash’s son Hanun, who had now become king. Hanun, however, intentionally humiliated David’s envoys, shaving off half their beards and cutting off the bottom half of their garments before sending them back to Israel. When David heard of it, he sent word to his envoys to remain at Jericho until their beards grew back. In the meantime, the Ammonites called upon several Aramean nations to help them fight against Israel, which was likely their original intent for humiliating David’s envoys. Warriors came from Beth-rehob and Zobah, which lay between Israel and Hamath farther north, as well as from Maacah (see “Geshur and Maacah” map) and Tob. The writer of 1 Chronicles also notes that soldiers came from Mesopotamia as well. David sent his commander Joab to fight this coalition at Rabbah. The writer of 1 Chronicles consistently speaks of the battle occurring at Medeba, rather than Rabbah, but the town of Medeba south of Heshbon seems an unlikely location for the battle. Perhaps Rabbah was also referred to at times as Medeba. In any case, Joab and his brother Abishai divided their forces into two groups, with Joab leading the fight against the Arameans to the north and Abishai leading the fight against the Ammonites just outside the gates of Rabbah. As Joab advanced, the Arameans fled, which in turn led the Ammonites to retreat behind the walls of Rabbah. After this Joab (and probably his forces) returned home to Israel. But the Arameans regrouped and added more troops from Aramean nations beyond the Euphrates River. David met them in battle at Helam (likely modern Alma) and won a great victory over them, even killing their commander Shobah (or Shophach). After this the Arameans made peace with Israel. Sometime later David also subjugated the Edomites, who lived to the south of Moab. It was likely sometime after this that David engaged in adultery with the wife of Uriah, one of his own valiant warriors (see “David’s Mighty Men” map), and then he tried to cover up his sin by arranging for Uriah’s death in battle. His sin was later exposed by Nathan the prophet, and David repented. After this Joab returned to Rabbah to finish capturing the city, and when victory was close at hand he called for David to come and finish taking the city. Thus the Ammonites became subject to Israel as well. From all these conquered nations David took many spoils and dedicated them to the Lord’s service, including great amounts of bronze from the towns of Tebah (also called Betah and Tibhath), Berothai, and Cun.
2 Samuel 8:1-8; 10:1-19; 12:21-31; 1 Chronicles 18:2-11; 19:1-19; 20:1-3
The accounts of David’s greatest military victories stand like bookends around the record of David’s most grievous sins. Sometime after David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and the Lord promised to establish his dynasty over Israel, David achieved a series of victories over virtually all of Israel’s neighboring nations. These began with David’s capture of Metheg-ammah (likely Gath) and all of Philistia and was followed by his victory over Moab. Then Nahash king of Ammon died, and David sent envoys to express his condolences to Nahash’s son Hanun, who had now become king. Hanun, however, intentionally humiliated David’s envoys, shaving off half their beards and cutting off the bottom half of their garments before sending them back to Israel. When David heard of it, he sent word to his envoys to remain at Jericho until their beards grew back. In the meantime, the Ammonites called upon several Aramean nations to help them fight against Israel, which was likely their original intent for humiliating David’s envoys. Warriors came from Beth-rehob and Zobah, which lay between Israel and Hamath farther north, as well as from Maacah (see “Geshur and Maacah” map) and Tob. The writer of 1 Chronicles also notes that soldiers came from Mesopotamia as well. David sent his commander Joab to fight this coalition at Rabbah. The writer of 1 Chronicles consistently speaks of the battle occurring at Medeba, rather than Rabbah, but the town of Medeba south of Heshbon seems an unlikely location for the battle. Perhaps Rabbah was also referred to at times as Medeba. In any case, Joab and his brother Abishai divided their forces into two groups, with Joab leading the fight against the Arameans to the north and Abishai leading the fight against the Ammonites just outside the gates of Rabbah. As Joab advanced, the Arameans fled, which in turn led the Ammonites to retreat behind the walls of Rabbah. After this Joab (and probably his forces) returned home to Israel. But the Arameans regrouped and added more troops from Aramean nations beyond the Euphrates River. David met them in battle at Helam (likely modern Alma) and won a great victory over them, even killing their commander Shobah (or Shophach). After this the Arameans made peace with Israel. Sometime later David also subjugated the Edomites, who lived to the south of Moab. It was likely sometime after this that David engaged in adultery with the wife of Uriah, one of his own valiant warriors (see “David’s Mighty Men” map), and then he tried to cover up his sin by arranging for Uriah’s death in battle. His sin was later exposed by Nathan the prophet, and David repented. After this Joab returned to Rabbah to finish capturing the city, and when victory was close at hand he called for David to come and finish taking the city. Thus the Ammonites became subject to Israel as well. From all these conquered nations David took many spoils and dedicated them to the Lord’s service, including great amounts of bronze from the towns of Tebah (also called Betah and Tibhath), Berothai, and Cun.
